Posted on 04/16/2008 3:49:32 AM PDT by BraveMan
Whoever coined the phrase "it's just like riding a bike" probably never switched motorcycles.
Even experienced riders can be wobbly on an unfamiliar bike, according to a recent study from the Progressive Group of Insurance Cos., a motorcycle insurer.
Progressive reviewed nearly 2 million motorcycle insurance policies over a five-year period and found that riders who switched to different types of bikes were nearly 70% more likely to crash than riders who kept the same bike.
The study also found that riders of cruiser bikes, such as Harley-Davidsons, who switched to high-performance sport bikes like Suzuki GSXRs were 3 1/2 -times more likely to crash. That's more than double the risk they would have if they had just switched to another cruiser.
Sport bikers, on the other hand, could reduce their crash risks by more than one-third just by switching to a cruiser, according to Progressive.
"We want experienced riders to know their risks so they can take extra precautions when they replace their bikes," said Rick Stern, a Progressive motorcycle insurance product manager who is also a rider.
New riders, by far, are still the most likely to crash because of their lack of riding experience.
But the study showed that riders unfamiliar with their current motorcycle, regardless of riding experience or the type of bike, were more likely to be involved in a collision.
"As a motorcycle rider, the data feels right. We certainly had enough data to feel confident that what we were looking at was real," Stern said.
The study looked at insurance policies where the policy holders had at least a year of riding experience. Age wasn't considered a factor, but many sport-bike enthusiasts are younger riders.
When a cruiser rider switches to a sport bike, the dynamics of riding are profoundly different, according to Stern.
"You can twist the throttle on a cruiser and go pretty darn fast, but your front wheel stays on the ground. If you twist the throttle that much on a sport bike, crazy things can happen," he said.
Even riders who successfully complete motorcycle safety classes are likely to crash if the bike they buy is much different than the one they learned on, said Rick Breuer, owner of Learning Curves Racing, a Milwaukee riding school.
"They take classes and do really well on a 250-cc (small) street bike and then go out and buy the biggest Harley they can possibly find. I expect them to almost fall down immediately just because of the differences in weight and because they don't have the respect for those giant bikes," Breuer said.
There's nothing inherently more dangerous about large motorcycles. It's the rider that makes the difference, said Mary Donovan-Popa, owner of Motorcycling Enterprises Inc., a Milwaukee riding school.
"Every bike has its own personality. Unless you familiarize yourself with that, you are looking for trouble," she said.
Older riders also are at a high risk of accidents, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
In 1997, for example, 19% of motorcyclists killed in the United States were ages 40 to 49. The figure had risen to 23% in 2006, the most recent year for which data was available, according to the NHTSA.
For the 50-to-59 age group, the total was 10% of motorcyclists killed in 1997 and 18% in 2006. In the 59-plus category, the figure was 4% in 1997 and 7% in 2006.
Why the changes? Much of it can be explained by a growing pool of baby-boomer motorcyclists, including those returning to riding after years out of the saddle.
In Wisconsin, there were 24 motorcyclists ages 45 to 54 killed in 2006, the most of any age group. Of the 712 people killed in motor vehicle accidents that year, 93, or 13%, were motorcycle drivers or passengers.
Anyone can benefit from practicing the basics on their bikes, Stern said, including low-speed riding, turning, shifting and higher-speed panic stopping.
Especially with a new bike: "It's a good idea for riders to take it out for a couple of shakedown cruises in a parking lot before hitting the open road," Stern said.
GEEZ THANX!;-)
“oil patch, some sand or gravel”
Oh, I just assumed that’s going to happen eventually. Then the laws of physics come into play. You’re going around a corner at 85 mph and go down. At this point you go straight, which means you leave the road at something close to 85 mph. If there’s anything solid (rock, tree, armco barrier, car in other lane, etc) in the way, you’re going to hit it at that speed. Could really ruin your day.
Unfortunately, even riding sensibly that patch of oil, sand or gravel may take you down someday, although at a more reaonable pace you might be able to ride it out or avoid it. If not, that’s where good gear comes into play, so as to avoid road rash and such. I think a good helmet is a good idea, too, but I’ll leave riding gear choices up to the person who has to live with the consequences. Of course, even at a more reasonable pace, if you slide into something solid, or get run over by a car in the other lane, even wearing the best gear, chances are you’re going to be seriously injured or dead. Motorcycling IS an inherently risky activity. I choose to accept those risks, for myself. And I’m willing to let others make the same choices and decide what kind of gear, including a helmet, that they want to wear.
“God made crotch rockets to keep idiots off of Harleys”.
It’s not working.
It might matter in the impending lawsuit
Motorcyclist killed by inattentive driver of car
Spouse and children left without supports...
Who caused the wreck, from a legal standpoint
can make all the difference to your dependents
You, however, are still dead....
Others who depend on you, may care a great deal
Take home message
Assume you are invisible
Virtually every time I go out,
this truth is reinforced by
someone/something who does something like...
Turn left in front of you
Cross the road in front of you
Change lanes into you
Pedestrian walking between parked cars and stops in your path
Wild animal (deer) jumps into road
The list goes on
Assume you are invisible
I tell my teenagers that a hospital (or morgue) are terrible places to celebrate moral victories...
I agree. I think the “graduated licensing” here should involve displacement limits, perhaps restricting novices to < 500cc.
+1
sport bikes are only more dangerous when the rider makes them so. its kinda like saying going from a family station wagon to a rodded out sport compact is more dangerous based on the fact that sport compacts crash more. they’re not more dangerous unless you drive like a loon.
Of course, it’s a fact that (most) people buy sportbikes so they can ride in a sporting fashion, meaning fast. That certainly does increase the risks involved, both of collisions (due to reduced reaction time available, and increased risk of other drivers misjudging your speed and distance) and of losing it in a corner. And higher impact speeds when things do go bad.
How do you recognize happy motorcycle riders?
By the bugs in their teeth.
3 scooters. 87 Soft-ail Heritage Classic, 91 Road King Heritage, and a 2006 Road King Screamin Eagle, just a skosh over a 100,000 miles on three of them.
I AM INVISIBLE ... despite leathers with reflective patches all over. Learn that every car is going to pass you in your lane. They will tailgate you within 20 ft. And they will ignore your presence. As they pass they will gawk ... taking eyes off of the road and again vulnerability rises out of the grave.
I DO NOT ride Interstates/Freeways (morons out there)
I no longer ride nights. Nocturnal animals. My one and only glimpse of the bright lights .... Pepe LePew’s cousin at midnight at 60mph. I somehow managed control ... but couldn't tell which stunk more ... the inside of my leathers or the odoriferous striped kitty on the asphalt (deader than ... well, just dead)
My next scooter .... I graduate to geezerdom ... never thought I'd say it but I look forward the Screamin Eagle Ultra Classic. Pass the geritol/viagra, vern.
Two types of motorcyclists. Those that ride Harleys, and those that dream about it. (let the flames begin)
Based on that, my wife's insistance that I get rid of my bike in 1992, and then allow me to get one in 2006 was all a plot to make me crash and kill myself so she could collect the insurance.
Truth be told, I had a 1100 Full dress Yamaha for years. Then, after a 13 year hiatus, I got a 750 V-Twin Kawasaki Vulcan...a cruiser. The weight balance shift is something I still haven't gotten used to. As soon as this is paid off, I am going back to a tour style. I don't like a cruise seating. It feels like I am in a rocking chair.
Where's Captain Obvious when you need him?
Stability on a bike is largely a combination of riding position, balance and power. When those things change, of course you have to get used to the new feel before you get too cocky.
Straddling a Sportster back then was almost a sexual experience. That throbbing 4 stroke V-twin engine and straight pipes was .... orgasmic.
(1) Real Men kick started their bikes then ;-)
They have not determined WHY this is or even if there is ANY correlation. They just noticed that people switching to a cruiser are less likely to have an accident. Those that stick with or switch to a sport-bike are more likely to have an accident. That's all they know.
There could be thousands of reasons for this. It does not necessarily say that one bike is automatically safer than another for all riders.
The companies just know that sport bike riders have more insurance costs so their premiums are higher. They don't know exactly why. Just like premiums are higher for sports cars than family sedans even though the sports cars may be safer and more maneuverable.
I dobut that chart.
The CONSISTANT statistic is for people who are riding for less than six months AND have no motorcycle license (ie no training course)
You also have to figure this article is garbage because in taking the course YOU START WITH A CRUISER. Most learning bikes are little cruising types. Few start out with their desired bike.
I think progressive is doing what they always do, they are lying.
Folks we are ASSUMING the cruising bike was owned for a long time.
The fact is most NEW riders learn on a small cruising bike to get their DL endorsement and IMMEDIATLY go and buy their bike of choice.
This article is garbage because it does not consider how many of these riders are totally new OR EVEN HAVE AN ENDORSEMENT.
This is about progressive trying to NOT PAY CLAIMS BY COLORING POTENTIAL JURIES.
There are law journals that report 75-80% of accidents are NOT the fault of the motorcycle but the automobile. That is a huge pay out exposure. If progressive can taint the pool with junk science, then they can lower their pay out.
So now progressive will point to this flawed study to say, “see he switched bikes” or some other excuse to try and negotiate down the settlement pay out.
Same dynamics.
Different handling characteristics due to power curves, frame geometry and tire types, but the same dynamics are in play.
What’s a RUB?
I personally don’t have a problem with any bike.
This year I’ll be riding a 250CC Hyosung. LOL! Last year it was a Vmax. The Vmax was fun but got worst gas mileage than my car (Sentra).
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